Famed painting 'September Morn' takes journey through Opelousas

"September Morn" hung in Ned's Pool Hall for more than four decades. It now hangs at Back in Time, an appropriate place for this valuable piece of Opelousas history. Wanda Juneau, owner of Back in Time, is shown with the picture that dates from circa 1912-1916. It was presented to her by Harold Comeau 20 years ago, just after she opened her business on Landry Street.(Photo: FREDDIE HERPIN)Buy Photo

For those of us who frequent the Back in Time Restaurant on Landry Street in downtown Opelousas, we know the story behind that painting of a woman hanging on the west wall of the place. Restaurant owner Wanda Juneau tells it very well.

It seems that painting has quite a history as it originally hung in a local bar and coffee shop called Ned’s Bar and Billiard Room, also known as Ned’s Pool Hall or simply Ned’s Bar. So how did it end up at Back In Time? Well, let’s talk about that.

In 1931, Ned Anselm opened a bar in downtown Opelousas in the building that once housed B. Bennett’s Store. Bennett’s was a well-known store in Opelousas dating back to the late 1890s. Mr. Bennett ran the store at first, but later E.K. Eastman, the father of Dick Eastman who became an actor and Broadway star, managed it. The store, first located in a building next door to Shute’s Drug Store, later moved down the block to 143 East Landry St. in a building next door to Dietlein’s Jewelry Store.

When Bennett’s Store closed its doors during the 1920s, the building was sold to others and eventually to Anselm, who opened the business he called Ned’s Bar and Billiard Room. Immediately, Ned’s became a hang out for the male population of Opelousas and the area. From the beginning, Ned did not allow women in the building. And that policy continued for decades.

Ned’s was more than a bar, it was a coffee shop and a place to play dominoes, as well as pool and cards. Sometimes arguments erupted over the results of a game. But most of the time Ned’s was peaceful and just a gathering place where old and new friends could meet to enjoy an adult beverage or a good cup of coffee. And while enjoying each other's company, many a tale was shared at Ned’s about goings on in the old town. One can only imagine what stories were told.

An ad for Ned's that ran in the Daily World in 1948, announcing the place was air conditioned,(Photo: FILE PHOTO)

The men who patronized Ned’s said the coffee served there was the best in the state. This claim was made as long as the place was in business. The coffee was served with freshly whipped cream, and it was always available morning or night.

The coffee pot was kept on a table that sat below a painting of a woman, called “September Morn.” That painting became a sort of local icon, as she was the only woman allowed in the building. Many stories were told about the painting over the years. And Mr. Ned would tell people she was this woman or that woman, or someone else depending on what day of the week you were in the place.

Over the years, Ned did some repairs and renovations to the building. In 1948, the place was air-conditioned, but there was a problem. It seems the electrical system could not handle the air conditioner, so it could not be run for some time. The system was eventually updated, and the place was finally cooled. But through all those repairs and changes, the one thing that always remained at Ned’s was “September Morn.”

Ned Anselm ran the business until he retired in December 1951. On Jan. 1, 1952, Warren Moore leased the business and took over the operation of Ned’s. In March 1964, Moore purchased the building from Anselm. Although it was owned by Moore, Ned spent much of his time there, until his death on Jan. 17, 1969, at the age of 78.

Warren Moore kept Ned’s business name and kept the policy he set all those years before — no women allowed, except of course “September Morn.”

Frankie Dietlein, who probably went to Ned’s every day from the time it opened until it closed, liked to tell the story of Warren Moore’s granddaughter who wanted to wish her Paw Paw Happy Birthday. She had to do that from outside the front door as he did not even allow her in the building. It wasn’t until the 1970s that women were allowed in the place.

In 1974, Adam “Junior” LeGrange took over the bar and ran it until it was sold to St. Landry Bank in 1976. It was demolished the following year. During the demolition, some of the workers found an old feather duster in the building. Many locals at that time speculated that duster was part of the old B. Bennett Store that was once located there before it was Ned’s.

But what became of that famous painting? Well it seems when Ned’s closed in early 1977, Harold Hill Comeau, a patron of the place for many years, bought the last cup of coffee served at Ned’s. He also bought the coffee cup and saucer as a keepsake of the place. At that same time, he purchased the well-known (to patrons, at least) “September Morn” painting that hung on the wall right above the coffee pot for many years. Today that painting is hanging in Back In Time, located a block away from where Ned’s once stood.

It seems Mr. Harold gave the painting to Miss Wanda when she opened her place in the mid 1990s. Wanda says the picture frame still has coffee stains left over from its time at Ned’s.

So now you know the story of “September Morn.” You can see her today as you enjoy delicious food, great dessert and the good coffee served at Back In Time. And you can also hear some great stories told by Miss Wanda and others, as that woman in “September Morn” listens to the conversation, just as she did all those years ago at Ned’s. If only she could talk, what stories she would tell!